Ohio University Libraries News and Events

The Map Collection in Ohio University’s Alden Library recently relocated to the Library’s fifth floor and merged with the Government Documents collection. Previously, the maps were housed on the first floor of Alden Library.

The Map Collection is the Library’s principal repository for sheet maps and consists of over 120,000 items. Most maps in the collection are general or topographic maps, but other maps represent subjects such as geology, climate, population, soil, recreation, history, and economics.

Doreen Hockenberry, head of the Alden Library Government Documents Department, is the Map Collection manager. Additional information about the Map Collection is available on the Libraries’ Web pages or by telephoning the Government Documents Department at 740-593-2718.

Students and others using public computer workstations in Alden Library are finding more software available to them. According to Library systems manager David Dudding, “In September, we added MS Word and Excel, Mulberry e-mail software, and gave direct access to Oak storage, as well as a local temporary storage area. The Libraries want to be responsive to student needs for computer programs often used along with the electronic information resources we provide.”

Alden Library has nearly 100 computers open to use by students and other library visitors scattered throughout its seven floors. All offer the additional Microsoft software and storage capabilities. While the Libraries made no announcement about the new computing offerings, students have been quick to discover icons for more than just a Web browser, which was the only choice previously.

The Alden Computer Lab, located on the Library’s second floor, is operated by Computer Services and offers a wide array of software programs for university students and staff. The changes in the Library’s computers throughout the building provides a greater similarity between all the workstations in Alden Library, whether in the Lab or not.

Susan Foster-Harper joins the staff of the Health Sciences Library, housed on the third floor of Alden Library, early in January 2004. Ms. Foster-Harper brings to Ohio University nearly twenty years experience working in health information positions in both medical and library facilities. Ms. Foster-Harper received her Master of Library Science degree from the University of Kentucky.

Most recently she held the position of Instructor at the University of Charleston (WVA), where she provided reference assistance and library instruction. Additionally, she served as a liaison between the Health Sciences faculty and Library and maintained the Library’s Website. Her interests in information technologies, learning communities, and service to distance learners will be useful in the future planning initiatives of the Health Sciences Library.